FIFTY years ago, nearly to the day, on Saturday, April 18, 1964, Jimmy McMillan, the Crook Town outside left, climbed the steps to the Royal Box at Wembley Stadium to receive his fourth and record-breaking FA Amateur Cup winners’ medal.

No player has won four winners medals before or since.

Jimmy McMillan was, and still is, revered at Crook Town Football Club. Besides winning four Amateur Cup winners medals with the Millfield Club, he made 505 appearances for them, scored 94 goals, won an England cap and dozens of other trophies and representative honours.

His behaviour on and off the field was exemplary.

I never saw or heard of him being sent off, booked or even spoken to by the referee.

A practising Methodist, he would be only too pleased to go along and read the lesson at a local chapel in the Crook area or attend a Sunday School service.

Despite being 80 years or more of age, he still supports events at Crook Town Football Club and was at the club in January to support the Northern League 125 celebrations. It is hoped he will attend the Crook 125 celebration on Friday, May 2.

He is president of Durham Amateur Football Trust and supports its events whenever possible.

It is thought that Jim’s first game for Crook was the Ground Opening game on September 17, 1951, but his last game in a black and amber shirt was Monday, December 10, 1968, when Crook opened their floodlights with a game against Malcolm Allison’s Manchester City.

Jim, who had stopped playing the season before, was invited to watch the match but came on as a second half substitute in a pair of boots at least one size too big.

He missed 1952-53 because he was studying at home and missed most of 1956-58 because of National Service at Great Malvern, in Worcestershire.

“I returned one Saturday to play at Spennymoor, but missed some connections on the way back and didn’t get to camp until 4pm. They were in the process of organising a search party for me, so I didn’t do it again.

“I played a few games for Great Malvern, turned out for my regiment and then joined Bromsgrove.

“We reached the final of the Worcester County Cup, but lost 1-0 to Worcester City.

Jim returned for the 1958-59 season, where he turned in a “Finney-like” performance for Crook against Leytonstone in the semi-final of the Amateur Cup at Roker Park. Crook won 2-0, before going on to beat Barnet 3-2 in the final at Wembley.

He talks enthusiastically though of the 1950s team, which only met on match days and played an exciting brand of off-the-cuff football.

“Against Hitchin Town, every forward scored two goals in a 10-1 win. We did our own training, Bert Steward used to run round Consett with a bag full of bricks on his back.

“Joe Harvey came in as coach for the final against Bishop Auckland in 1954, but as regards tactics, the only thing he said was, ‘If you are not losing and it’s near the end, hit their corner flags.”

Allan Brown came in to partner Jim at left-half in the 1960s, and their left wing play was a one reason why Jim was able to collect his third winner’s medal in 1962 when Hounslow were beaten 4-0 in a replay at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough.

Jim scored the Crook goal in a 1-1 draw at Wembley and scored the third Crook goal in the replay.

Allan would receive the ball in midfield, pass it to Jim and go for the return.

Having received the ball back, Allan would wait for the right time to send a defence-splitting pass for Jim to run on to.

The Northern Echo:
Jimmy McMillan, back row, second right, with fellow players celebrate winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1964

If that move was worked once, it was worked a thousand times at Crook.

“I also used to play the same move with left-back Bert Steward” said Jim.

It was not a vintage Crook side in 1964 against Enfield. “We were lucky in that a couple of their better players missed the final because of injury, and then when they were 1-0 ahead, their goalkeeper broke his wrist.

“I thought we could have picked a stronger team; both Seamus O’Connell and John Cocking had played during the season, they were just two who were not selected. Never mind, we won.”

In between Amateur Cup and Northern League action, Jim also starred in the FA Cup, scoring for Crook in a 2-2 draw with Derby County in 1956, was a member of the Crook team narrowly beaten 1-0 by York City in 1959 and 5-4 by Hull City in 1962, and played when Crook beat Carlisle United 1-0 in the first round in 1964.

He was left out for the second round tie against Oldham, “I suppose they wanted to try someone else,” said modest Jim.

Most Crook supporters were extremely disappointed, some hopping mad, that Jim did not play against Oldham.

His final attribute was to encourage other players.

At Appleby Park, North Shields, one Saturday in the 1960s, a Crook player who was having a rough time scored an early goal.

Jim was first to run over and congratulate him, “That’s the way,” said Jim.